New Ofra Synagogue Dedicated to Memory of Terror Victims Asaf and Dvir
A new synagogue inaugurated in Ofra honors terror victims Asaf Hershkowitz and Dvir Sorek, closing a poignant personal circle for the bereaved families and the local community.
A moving dedication ceremony was held this week in the Binyamin region town of Ofra to inaugurate the new "Mizmor LeAsaf" synagogue, built in memory of Asaf Chaim Hershkowitz, who was killed in a 2001 shooting attack. The complex includes the "Heichal Dvir" sanctuary, dedicated to the memory of Dvir Yehuda Sorek, who was murdered in a 2019 stabbing attack.
During the ceremony, attended by bereaved families, rabbis, and community residents, Yoav Sorek, Dvir's father, shared a poignant personal connection to the site. The same location where Dvir's brit milah (circumcision) was held years ago also served as the departure point for his funeral procession after he was killed at the age of 19.
"Our home is very close by, and Dvir is likely the only person whose life circle closed within this synagogue structure," Yoav Sorek said. He described his son as a young man deeply devoted to Torah, prayer, and the land, noting his rare capacity for deep listening and kindness toward others.
The synagogue honors the memory of Ofra residents killed in terror attacks decades apart. The building is named after Asaf Chaim Hershkowitz, murdered in May 2001 on Route 60. His murder occurred just three months after his father, Aryeh Hershkowitz, was killed in another shooting attack. Following Asaf's death, the nearby hilltop community of Givat Asaf was established in his honor. Beside it now stands "Heichal Dvir," commemorating Dvir Yehuda Sorek, an Ofra resident and Etzion Bloc yeshiva student murdered in August 2019.
Yisrael Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and Chairman of the Yesha Council, spoke at the event about the profound significance of building a house of prayer amidst deep loss.
"We stand here this evening with great emotion facing something far from ordinary," Gantz said. "After profound loss, we are privileged to inaugurate a house of Torah and prayer. Right where our enemies sought to cut down life, we continue to build and foster new life."
Gantz praised the community's dedication and perseverance in completing the long-planned project, expressing hope that the new synagogue will bring renewal and strength to the entire region.
